Method of treating zinc ores for the recovery of metallic zinc therefrom.



H. H. HUGHES.

METHOD 0I TREATING ZINC ORES FOR` THE RECOVERY 0F METALLI C ZINC THEREFROM. APPLICATION FILED APR.6,1910.

Patented Jan. 3, 1911.

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FOR THE RECOVERY OF META METHOD 0F` TREATING ZINC ORES LLIG ZINC THEREPROM. APPLICATION FILED APR.e.1910.

Patented Jan. 3, 1911.

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H. HUGHES, OF SPRINGFIELD, MISSURI, ASSIGNR O1? ONE-HALF TO IF. X..

HEER AND El.. J. EISENMAYER, BOTH 0F SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI.

METHJD 0F TRETING ZIC GRES FUR THE RECOVERY' 0F METALLIC ZINC T'HEBEFROM.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY HERBEPNT Huertas, a citizen of the United States; residing at Springfield, in the county of Greene and State,y of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Treating Zinc Orcs for the Recovery of Metallic, Zinc Therefrom, of which the following is a specification.

rllhis invention relates to improvements in methods of treating zinc ores for the recovery of metallic zinc therefrom.

The object of the invention is the provision'of a continuous method of treating zinc ores in such a waylthat a greater quantity of ore may be efficiently treated Within a given time to obtain a maximum amount of metal therefrom than with the methods heretofore employed.

A further object ofthe invention is the recovery of metallic zinc from its ores by the volatilization of the metallic zinc by a -continuous method of treatment, the ores being continuously fed into a heated retort where they are agitated, the volatile metal and residue bein passed from said retort to a condenser, 'rom which the "condensed metal and residue are removed from time to time.

Other objects of the invention will be lparent-from the detailed specification hereinafterwhen read in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein one form of yapparatus is illustrated which may be used to carry out the processand whereinlike numerals of reference refer to similar parts ratus the 25th day of May, 1909, to 'me for iiuin the several views.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of an apparatus which may be utilized in practicing the improved method, Eig. 2 is a Vertical section taken on line 2-2 on F ig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow s, Fig. 3 is a vertical section ou line ofliig. 1. Fig. 4 is a vertical section on line 4-4 of -Fig. 1. v

For the purpose of illustration, I have shown in the accompanying drawings as one form of apparatus with which the improved 'method may be practiced, the appa disclosed in Patent No. 922906 issued provcinen'cs in revolving furnaces for vola tilizing ore, but it will of course be under- Specication of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 6,

. Patented Jan. 3. 1911. 191e. semi ne 553,770.

stood that otherforms of apparatus may be utilized to carry on the improved method of treating zinc ores herein set forth. In the ap aratusvshown 1 indicates the irel brick an walls and 2 the base of a supporting structure upon which rest the bearing brackets 37, supporting the revolving furnace which holds the retort 3. The retort 3, which is of tubular, and may be of one end projecting through and beyond one of the end walls, and terminates at its opposite endin a tubular feed extension 4, which projects through the 'other end wall and around'which 1s secured a main hopper 26, which may be of any desired construction.

or secondary hopper 27, 28 extends into the feed extension 4 of the retort 3, which extension is provided on its inner surface with a feed screw which serves to continuously feed ore from the hopper 27 carrying out the method both hoppers are at all times kept full of ore thereby preventing the entrance of air into the retort, which is absolutely necessary in ldistilling zinc ores for the recovery of metallic zinc. Surround -ing and entirely inclosing the retort 3 is a cylindrical steel casing 5 provided with an inner lining 6 of fire brick, the retort 3 being held in the proper relation by radial braces 7 extending between the same and the casi'ng 5. The annular space 31 between the rebustion chamber which is heated by oil or gas burners 32 which extend through the front wall into said chamber. A fine or up,- take in the front wall leads from said chamber. The steel casing 5 turns or rotates upon two pairs of bearing rollers 36 mounted upon the upper ends of bearing brackets 37.

A hollow tube 8 has its inner end cou led or connected to the projecting end 9 o the retort 3 in any suitable manner and its opposite end extends through a stuiing box 10 arranged at the outer end of the u per hollowed portion 11 of an upright rame 12. The tube 8 constitutes a condensing chamber and the hollowed out portion of the frame 12 a continuation thereof. Mounted in the hollow frame '12 which constitutes a part of the condensing chamber, are two superposed slides 39 and 40, for a purpose to be hereingradually tapering form, 1s arranged' with' Positioned within the hopper 26 is a smaller'v rom which a tubel into the retort during rotation thereof. In

tort and the steel casing 5 provides a com after more particularly set forth, and leading from the hollow frame 12 just above the `slide 3S) is a duet 33 which permits the condensed metal to pass from the condensing chamber and to the collecting pan ofa truck 34 or other suitable receptacle. The carbon monoxid gas wlilch is generated by reducing the zine ore passes from the condensing chamber into a pipe 35 by means of which it is led into the combustion chamber31,1)1'efti1s1bly at a point between the burner 3Q, and is used as an auxiliary fuel in n'iaintaining the deslred heat in said chamber. The condensing chamber map be iliade of the exact size and kept at the enact temperature for the perfect condensation of the zinc fumes, tlms reducing to a minimum the formation of blue powder l'n this connection it may be said that with the methods heretofore followed, the formatimi of blue powder often amounts to as much as one half the Zine regularly discharged into the ret ort and that this powder has to be re-distilled only to be formed again and again. 'lo insure maintaining the proper temperature for the condenser, auxiliary gas heaters 42 may be used if neces sary, and an auxiliaryv gas heater may also be arranged under the duct 33 to keep the '/.inc in a molten state. Y

o ln the form of apparatusherein"illus trated, the tube S and retort 3 are' rotated together by the following means. A motor 14 is arranged near the. rear end wall, the shaft 15 of which is provided at one end with ay gall' wheel 17 keyed or otherwise. fixed to the rear end of a shaft 18 extending through the front end wall 1, and through a bearing 1 9 arranged beneath the center of the fur- 0 nace and upon the supporting base 2.- The tu-i.'n"'at exactly-the same speed. rv"The inner end ofthe tube S turns upon a pairi'of roller bearingsQll mounted at the upperiend of a sul'iporting bracket 25 bolted to` the rear a end Wall 1 of the supporting structure.

.With the apparatus hereindescrlibed, in

carryirrgout the method, the hoppers 2G and 27 are filledI with ore and the' retort 3,'

.which hasipreviously been brought. to the 0lproperftemperature by the burners in the Combustion chanber `31 is rotated, .which )inion 16 which intermeshes with a laree serves to draw ore therein from the hopper Q7. The ore which is thus d `awn into the retort is agitated by the rotation thereof and every particle vof the ore. is at once brought into direct contact with the heat and carbon, so that the distillation of the metal contained therein is immediate and constant. The zine vapors and the residue passl` during the rotation of the retort into the condensing chamber and a new supply of ore is continuously drawn into the retort from the hopper Q7. After the zinc vapor which passes into the condenser has been condensed it. passes ott' through the duct 33, which is so formed as to prevent the entrance of any air to the retort. The residue is deposited on the slide 3S in the condensing chamber and when a suiticient amount has'accumulated thereon this slide may be drawn out and the residue. permitted to fall upon the lower slide el-O and by pulling out the-latter slide after closing the former, the residue may be removed from the condensing chamber without admitting airto the retort.

I claim 1. The continuons method of volatilizing metallic-zine from its ores, consisting in introducing the oresl into a heated retort, agi- "ta/ting the ores while contained within the retort. passing the volatilized metal and residue/from the retort. into a condensing chambei,l permitting the escape of the condensed nietal from the condensing chamber, and re- ,moving chamber.

'lhe continuous method of volatilizing metalliezine from its ores consisting in subjet-.ting a body/of ore lo the action of heat, agitatii'ig the ore whih` heilig heated, passing the volatilized metal into a condenser, appl'ving` heat to the condenser, allowing the. condensed metal to escape from the condenser. and ahstracting the combustible gases from the condenser.

3. 'lhe continuous method in volatilizing metallic zinc i'rom its ores consisting in'subjeeting a moving body of ore to the action of heatY to separate the volatile from the nonvolatile. portions thereof, condensing the volatile metallic vapors, and separating the condensed metal from the non-volatile resi- \due, said heating, ebden'satiou and separation being leffected without admitting ail to'the mate'rial under treatment. t

ln testimony whereof I' affix my signature in ,presence of two witnesses. l

HARRY u. anemie .l Witnessesz" M. 1)...G1Lcluusr W. M'. Blom-f2? the residue from the 'condensing 

